"Gefner" atemoya

Is anyone growing one?

I just installed one today -- and am hoping -- hoping -- hoping.

(o_O)

So, it's 8 months later -- and it looks like I'll have to buy atemoya fruit.

All I get under the tree are these little green ball-bearings.

I get an occasional blossom -- but they fall off.

Any suggestions?

(o_O)

And the tree looks like this:

This is it at the end of the season. The leaves are starting to drop -- and I am looking forward to severely pruning it next spring when the buds come out.

Does anyone want to hold my hand when I start cutting?

Be well

(o_O)

The tree looks a bit young to start producing good fruit.

When the plant flowers, hand pollination should be done to insure more fruit.

Pruning should be done during the winter.

Here's Atemoya links:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg332

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atemoya

http://www.pubhort.org/actahort/books/497/497_7.htm

Metro~

Thank you.

The first two links worked -- but not the third.

But, they help.

I asked the nursery to get me a "bearing Atemoya" and this is what they delivered.

Guess i'll have to wait.

Be well

(o_O)

You're very welcome!

I have also located the Fountain of Youth for you!

http://www.fountainofyouthflorida.com/index.php

Thanks -- but I couldn't handle "youth" again.

I just get so tired.

Be well

(o_O)

Besides the water from the spring taste nasty. Beside it does not work. I have tasted it twice--well my DM does say I am the oldest kid she knows!!!!

It must work.

You're here, aren't you?

Be well

(o_O)

I have an atemoya from seeds I've started. I have a sugar apple from seeds I've started.
I grew tired of the atemoya never setting fruits so I moved the sugar apple (in a 3 gal pot) next to the atemoya growing in the ground.
The atemoya had a lot more frost damage. That dead area grew; making the tree smaller by the week. After cutting 4 ft from the height; it began to flower.
This past season I picked 4 sugar apples and no atemoyas.
I've been successful hand pollinating atemoya's flowers with a piece of straw.
Looks like this coming spring, I'll be crossing the 2 trees by hand even tho they're 1 ft apart.

atemoya flowers.

I had none this year. It's supposed to be self-pollinating. Who knows.

I'll be cutting back the long branches in half next spring.

Be well

(o_O)

LOL

How to pollinate Cherimoya / Atemoya:

http://cherimoya.orconhosting.net.nz/pages/hand_when.html

http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/cherimoya.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherimoya

Thank you, Metro~ and Wren~

Be well

(o_O)

Wonder of wonders.

I took the loppers to my tree -- I had to tame it. To keep it from spreading all over the lot.

And -- look what I found hidden in the foliage.

I hope it ripens.

Be well

(o_O)

Good find

Thank you.

I was giving up hope. I bought what the nursery said was a "bearing" tree. Plenty of blossoms -- none set.

Hope that next year will be better.

Be well

(o_O)

Pretty good -- so far.

Will it survive during the winter (?) ?

(o_O)

I don't suppose you'll get ANY frost in the Keys so I wouldn't know what you'd have to worry about. If you think it might get too cold some odd nights you could always run an extension cord with a 60 watt bulb & hang it near the fruit -- that will keep it warm enough.

How long before it gets ripe?

Be well

You'll have to find that out by yourself as I have no earthly idea. Try Googling it.

Thanks anyhow

Have a happy Thanksgiving

This year's atemoya.

It is the best I could do with the iPhone

Be well

(o_O)

Hmmm, look like green bananas to me - is that what they taste like? (when they ripen?)

Naaahhhh.

They taste like vanilla pudding when ripe. Also they have a few giant-sized seeds.

Be well

(o_O)

Maybe this year. I hope, I hope, I hope.

Be well

(o_O)

Be sure to pollinate the flowers!

This is the first one that opened. What do i do? Wait -- or gather some pollen on a Q-tip?

Yes.

Gather male pollen on a Q-tip. And save it.

When the female shows her self (should be the next day), dust her with the male pollen.

You will get a fruit that both of you will enjoy!

Pollinating your flowers is highly recommended!

Do you have a link to photos which detail the difference?

So I am wandering around with my Q-tip in hand -- forcing it into little blossoms as soon as they open. Weird, huh?

Here are the blossoms

And -- I hope that I am responsible for these tiny brown balls that appeared when the petals dropped off.

If I am right it is going to be a good year for Atemoyas.

Be well

(o_O)

Another year -- another atemoya. Two, so far.

Be well

(o_O)

Congrats on your fruit. I admit I've never heard of it and had to look it up.

Great info here on it: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg332

Thanks for the link

Be well

(o_O)